Not many views on this story, is it because it's not a pairing story or the terrible summary? (No need to answer that, I was just musing out loud)
Dobby tentatively pushed open the door of the Hog's Head and when he realised the bar was empty, he let out a sigh of relief.
"What's a bloody house-elf doing in my bar?" Aberforth muttered tersely, just loud enough for Dobby to hear.
Dobby quickly rushed over to the bar and climbed up onto a bar stool. Even though he remained standing, his head was the only part of him visible. He bowed low and then looked up at Aberforth.
"Mr Dumbledore, sir, I is Dobby the house-elf. I is a free elf who is been working at Hogwarts. I is knowing lots of secrets that Professor Dumbledore had and he is warning Dobby that he must leave Hogwarts and hide before Professor Snape and the dark wizards try to hurt Dobby and make him tell. Professor Dumbledore is telling Dobby that Mr Aberforth Dumbledore might hide Dobby and keep him safe if Dobby is offering to work for him."
Aberforth gave Dobby nothing but a stunned look for a few moment while Dobby stood there, wringing his hands with a hopeful look on his face.
"You mean to say, my brother told a house-elf to run from his master and that I would help? When you're going to have death eaters looking for you?" Aberforth managed to ask, incredulous.
"Oh no no no sir, Dobby has no master. Dobby is a free elf since Harry Potter helped to free him. Dobby was free to leave Hogwarts whenever Dobby wanted." Dobby reassured him, his head nodding up and down rapidly. "And since Dobby is leaving Hogwarts, Professor Snape is not going to waste his time looking for Dobby. Dobby just couldn't stay at Hogwarts."
"So because my brother needs more secrets kept for him, he's sent you here telling me that I have to hide you." There was anger and resentment in his voice.
"No Mr Dumbledore, you is not having to help Dobby and Professor Dumbledore is not telling you too. He is asking you too. Dobby is asking you. Dobby has nowhere else to go and Dobby wants to help Harry Potter. Professor Dumbledore is also telling Dobby that you has a way to keep an eye on Harry Potter. And Professor Dumbledore is telling Dobby that his brother was always the better brother, even if no one else is realising it. He is saying that Aberforth is more understanding when it comes to some things, though he is not telling Dobby what. Please let Dobby stay here, if you is able too?" Dobby finished the speech he had practised earlier in the Headmaster's office.
Everything he had said was true, Professor Dumbledore had told him to tell Aberforth all of it and Professor Dumbledore had meant it all.
Aberforth looked into the pitifully desperate eyes of Dobby and realised that having the small elf around wouldn't be so bad. It would be nice to have someone to talk to and help him out while he tried to keep an eye on potter. He knew Albus had coached the elf, but found he wasn't as bothered by it as he would have been years ago; it wasn't the elf's fault he was caught up in all of this, after all.
"That's all well and good, but how in Merlin's name am I supposed to explain why I suddenly have a house elf around the place?" He grumbled to Dobby.
"Professor Dumbledore is suggesting that you is telling people you won Dobby in a card game or took him as payment for an overdue tab." Dobby squeaked out, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. "Does this mean that Mr Dumbledore is going to help Dobby?"
"Yes I'll bloody well help you, but you have to help me in return. And you'll have to find something else to wear, even if Snape's not looking for you, you'll stand out like a dragon's egg in a chicken coop if you stay wearing that unsightly jumper and tea cosy. Figures my brother'd have an answer ready for everything." Aberforth grumbled, but the corners of his bearded mouth twitched to show the elf he was smiling.
Dobby squealed and jumped up onto the bar, grabbing Aberforth into a hug, tears welling up in his huge eyes.
"Thank you Mr Dumbledore! Dobby will be forever in your debt. Dobby will go and find something else to wear right now and get started on helping you, sir."
Aberforth prised the elf's arms off of him and looked him in the eyes.
"Ease up there, Dobby. If this is going to work and keep you out of harm's way, you'll have to act a little more elf like when you're down in the bar here." He said gruffly.
"Of course, sirs. Dobby is forgetting himself for a moment. Should Dobby punish himself?" Dobby asked, his eyes downcast, his shoulder's and ears drooping.
"Don't be an idiot! Of course not! You're a bloody free elf, ain't ya? Just try to remember to act like a house-elf." Aberforth told him. "Now head upstairs and get a spare pillow case out of the linen cupboard and put away your clothes for now." His tone softened slightly. He could never be cruel to house-elves and already he was quite fond of the strange elf that stood in front of him.
"Yes sirs. Dobby is so very happy Mr Dumbledore is helping him. Dobby wants to offer many thanks to you." He said cheerfully, his ears flapping as he hopped off the bench and headed up the stairs.